Practicing Biblical Meditation

[Chad]

Practicing Biblical Meditation
By Dr. Charles Stanley

Psalm 1:1-3

Meditation is reading the Scriptures, listening to the Lord, and asking Him to speak to our hearts. It means making ourselves available to Him for instruction and growth.

To meditate requires time, outward silence, and inner quiet, three things that many of us unfortunately do not believe we must give to God. We tend to be spiritually anemic because we keep busy running from one activity to the next.

But if we choose to meditate, God has great rewards for us.

We will learn to develop a quiet spirit, no matter how stormy our surroundings are. Inner calm is one character trait of Jesus Christ that we can appropriate as we become more like Him.

Another positive result of meditation is that God will deepen our hunger for Him. Many people wish they loved God more, and quiet time is the key. Try setting aside time with God every day for a week. You may have to start the process more than once, but it will be worth it. God will do an amazing work—He will so satisfy the desires of your heart with Himself that you will want more time with Him.

Through meditation, our view of the Lord enlarges because we learn to see Him as He really is. We also see problems and needs in their proper perspective. No difficulty is too big for our Father. When we experience the living God, our discernment is sharpened, and we learn to think as He thinks.

Of course, the greatest reward of meditation is an increased sensitivity to God, His will, and His work in our life.

Biblical meditation beings us closer to our Creator—the One who has amazing things planned for our lives. And as we experience Him and walk along the path He has for us, we will experience life at its very best.

 

[shorty50]

thank you chad for posting this topic, it has help me and blessed me because this was something i was truely stuggling with. thank you for letting the lord use you.

 

[Arabhorselover]

Thank you for posting this. It is something I have intended to do for as long as I can remember. It is only in the last few weeks that I have finally been getting up earlier to read the Bible. Somehow I also need to find time to be quiet and listen. So hard for me.

 

[Brighthouse]

I could not agree with my brother Chad more!! In James 2:17 we see " Even so faith,if it has no works, is dead being by itself!! What is that work?? The work for all believers in Christ Jesus is found in john 6:28-29! And to believe is to stay in his Word daily so that our mindset is renewed through his Word! To become ever thinking of his Word rather then our feeling and emotion!( 1 cor 16:13-14!!) As my brother Chad spoke is "having an increased sensitivity to God, his will,and his WORK in our life!!" There is no doubt left because our minds are renewed in HIS truth! THROUGH!!!! HIS!!! very Word which produces his very work in us!! amen! Thanks so much for that reminder brother!!

 

[Thiscrosshurts]

To meditate requires time, outward silence, and inner quiet, three things that many of us unfortunately do not believe we must give to God. We tend to be spiritually anemic because we keep busy running from one activity to the next.

Nice piece by Dr Stanley,
His comment here is so true.
Finding time to rest is not easy when you are responsible for others welfare.
That's why singles who want a spouse should enjoy every minute they spend alone with the Father and Jesus.
Because he will answer in his time and you will end up missing that closeness you had with him when you were longing for companionship.
You will soon find that pleasing God was easier than pleasing a spouse.
And you will long for that "no one but the one" relationship you had.

Don't get me wrong I have four children and a spouse who I have shared 33 years with.
Now that the children have left the nest and we got over the empty nest syndrome we started to
spend more time in that sabbath rest.
No schedule and an open ear makes it easier for the eternal spirit to minister to us who are stuck in time.
While your busy though you can slow down in your heart and let God minister through his heart to your busy brain.
God speed

 

[Peter]

I have been doing this on a regular basis. Even when posting a reply to this forum.
When I first started meditating on the word of God, or scripture, it was mentally challenging. My ego tried to divert me from any deeper truths.
These days, I no longer have to struggle with the meditation. I simply love Christ and be patient.
The main lessons I learnt from Christ is to reference (the way, truth, and life) from the spirit perspective as opposed from the worldly-self perspective.

Meditating on scripture, is a real heart opener.
I know this may sound strange, but I cannot explain it any other way without tarnishing it. When Jesus, through the Spirit of truth, reveals a truth, I sense a bright yellow light shining from my heart, and it is quickened. This also happens when I reply to most of my posts here on TJ. Sometimes I might want to reply, or expand on a post, but nothing is happening from my heart. It is then I usually do not reply, or cancel what I wrote.

I have noticed that truth has no need for a story, or a long explanation. Truth simply IS, and the more words attached to the IS, less IS it becomes. Often I just end up with a short reply.
Sometimes I get the urge to articulate one thing, from various angels, to minimize confusion, But I still manage to confuse many :laugh:, and some even resent it. But if my heart is still open during the tension from others, I remain okay with it all.

I strongly recommend prayer and meditation on scripture, and even on the deeper meanings of singular words.
The world is a cover-up story for the real truth of the spirit. Prayer and meditation is a way to see clearly.

 

[SHINY4UJESUS]

You know for the longest time I strained at this gnat, completely misunderstanding the idea of what meditation was. All I had known of "meditation," was stuff I saw in "Karate Kid," and other martial arts movies...LOL. I thought meditation was sitting cross-legged yoga style, thumb and finger in a ring on each knee...muttering some mantra over and over. Obviously, such a thought was just too comical for me to even consider meditating; however, over time I learned how narrow and misguided this perspective was. In the end, I have drawn some basic conclusions on the concept:

A). Meditation is not so much about the act in and of itself; but the focus, direction and intensity with which one applies it. it is simply seeking more diligently, digging deeper, and driving harder to find the unwritten truths and underlying principles/applications.
B). It is contemplative and thoughtful re-visitation of the scriptures, passages, and exhortations studied as we go throughout our daily lives.
C) it is being intentional with our prayers to impose upon God to reveal to us greater insight and depth of understanding regarding what we read and receive.

Since I have learned to "go the extra mile," in truly absorbing the written Word; I have seen dramatic and undeniable increase in the fruit from such daily enterprise. For those who don't know...if one wishes to know...apply the concept of meditation; and one will find a far deeper comprehension of who God is, what He wills, and what His Word says.

 

[Sheila johnson]

I'm actually really struggling with this as we speak

Practicing Biblical Meditation
By Dr. Charles Stanley

Psalm 1:1-3

Meditation is reading the Scriptures, listening to the Lord, and asking Him to speak to our hearts. It means making ourselves available to Him for instruction and growth.

To meditate requires time, outward silence, and inner quiet, three things that many of us unfortunately do not believe we must give to God. We tend to be spiritually anemic because we keep busy running from one activity to the next.

But if we choose to meditate, God has great rewards for us.

We will learn to develop a quiet spirit, no matter how stormy our surroundings are. Inner calm is one character trait of Jesus Christ that we can appropriate as we become more like Him.

Another positive result of meditation is that God will deepen our hunger for Him. Many people wish they loved God more, and quiet time is the key. Try setting aside time with God every day for a week. You may have to start the process more than once, but it will be worth it. God will do an amazing work—He will so satisfy the desires of your heart with Himself that you will want more time with Him.

Through meditation, our view of the Lord enlarges because we learn to see Him as He really is. We also see problems and needs in their proper perspective. No difficulty is too big for our Father. When we experience the living God, our discernment is sharpened, and we learn to think as He thinks.

Of course, the greatest reward of meditation is an increased sensitivity to God, His will, and His work in our life.

Biblical meditation beings us closer to our Creator—the One who has amazing things planned for our lives. And as we experience Him and walk along the path He has for us, we will experience life at its very best.

 

[SHINY4UJESUS]

It is much harder in this day and age to meditate. The world is so "fast" and full of obligations, especially if one has children....LOL. In which case you may be lucky to have a moment at all to sleep much less meditate...haha! However, we can multi-task here. How hard is it to reflect on our morning's study as we drive to work? How hard is it to reread the passage before bed and sleep on it? How hard is it to write a single verse down and read it on lunch break at work....or at moments throughout our day? True, meditation is most effective when we have the time to find a quiet corner in life and spend time in deep contemplation...but we can adapt to our situations and MAKE time for smaller moments of reflection. It is up to us to be intentional here...the world will not proactively "grant" us meditation time. We have to take actions and make preparations to undertake it. In the end...even a minute or two of meditation is better than nothing.

 

[timotheus]

There is a great song done by the Vineyard (written by Brian Doerksen I think) titled "Song for the Bride" based on Isaiah 31 ... The Lord used to use this song to melt my heart and cause me to be still ... "In repentance and rest you shall be saved, in quietness and trust is your strength." Meditation can be more than this, but this is such an important thing for every day as was shared. "They that wait upon the Lord will renew their strength." ... It is always and only Him.

 

[JesusIs4Me]

Practicing Biblical Meditation
By Dr. Charles Stanley

Psalm 1:1-3

Meditation is reading the Scriptures, listening to the Lord, and asking Him to speak to our hearts. It means making ourselves available to Him for instruction and growth.

To meditate requires time, outward silence, and inner quiet, three things that many of us unfortunately do not believe we must give to God. We tend to be spiritually anemic because we keep busy running from one activity to the next.

But if we choose to meditate, God has great rewards for us.

We will learn to develop a quiet spirit, no matter how stormy our surroundings are. Inner calm is one character trait of Jesus Christ that we can appropriate as we become more like Him.

Another positive result of meditation is that God will deepen our hunger for Him. Many people wish they loved God more, and quiet time is the key. Try setting aside time with God every day for a week. You may have to start the process more than once, but it will be worth it. God will do an amazing work—He will so satisfy the desires of your heart with Himself that you will want more time with Him.

Through meditation, our view of the Lord enlarges because we learn to see Him as He really is. We also see problems and needs in their proper perspective. No difficulty is too big for our Father. When we experience the living God, our discernment is sharpened, and we learn to think as He thinks.

Of course, the greatest reward of meditation is an increased sensitivity to God, His will, and His work in our life.

Biblical meditation beings us closer to our Creator—the One who has amazing things planned for our lives. And as we experience Him and walk along the path He has for us, we will experience life at its very best.

#1 Meditation can be found in other cultures as well as other religions. The similarity of experiencing a phenomenon by various ways can be found even in Christianity that should happen to embrace the world's form of meditation.

#2 The difference for meditation as cited in the scripture was signified as meditating on His law or in our case; His words.

Psalm 1:1Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

So becoming a blank slate or voiding your mind of thoughts to relax is not really the Biblical form of meditating. The world's meditation is considered to be of the "new age" concept that unfortunately has crept into Christianity.

Indeed, a fellow coworker who was also a pastor was reported by his daughter whom was upset and explaining this to me at my former work place, that her father was arranging a private "blue" room where during service, people can go to, to block out all thoughts and distractions and noises so they can focus on the Holy Spirit in receiving Him apart from salvation to get that sign of tongues which comes with no interpretation which they had assumed wrongly for private use.

Just as it is of the rudiment of the world to receive spirits on a continual basis because they feel it and see it being received.

Indeed, as much as modern day tongue speakers today insist on this other baptism with the Holy Ghost with evidence of tongues, they don't stop there; It is an ongoing event whereby they call upon the Holy Spirit to receive "Him" after other signs of confusion that they can see such receptions like "slain in the spirit" and "holy laughter". Some tongue speakers will argue against such confusion and be bold enough to say it is not of the Lord, and yet cannot explain why God would allow the devil to respond when they were addressing the Holy Spirit in worship. Even one can be against it and try to stop it happening in that assembly and can fall to that "spirit". Why? Because any believer that believes the lie that they can receive the Holy Spirit apart from salvation, God will permit that strong delusion to occur for believing that lie. Jesus did say for discernment that no good tree will produce an evil fruit and no evil tree can produce a good fruit. Matthew 7:13-20 KJV They can proclaim all the miracles they want ( Matthew 7:21-23 KJV ) but ultimately, its fruit is known when they fall ( Matthew 7:14-27 KJV )

This is why Jesus said He is the only way to come to God the Father by in John 14:6 and the only way to honor the father in worship is by only honoring the Son ( John 5:22-23 ) which is what the Holy Spirit is sent to do because there is no other way to honor the Father by ( John 10:1 KJV ) That is why in Luke 13:24-30 is the solution to avoid this falling away from the faith happening a lot in these latter days ( 1 Timothy 4:1-2 KJV ) by focus ONLY on the Son in worship ( Luke 13:24-30 KJV ) or run the risk of being left behind as that include believing that His Presence is in the worship place when believers hold communion as in eating and drunken in His Presence as cited in Luke 13:24-30 KJV

So keep your eyes on the Bridegroom for He shall be coming soon and meditate on His words and you will abide in Him and identify with Him instead of being identified with the world in how they meditate.

1 Thessalonians 5:21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. 22 Abstain from all appearance of evil. 23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.

Psalm 63:6When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches.

Psalm 77:12I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings.
48
Psalm 119:15I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways. .....23Princes also did sit and speak against me: but thy servant did meditate in thy statutes. ....48My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments, which I have loved; and I will meditate in thy statutes. .....78Let the proud be ashamed; for they dealt perversely with me without a cause: but I will meditate in thy precepts. ....148Mine eyes prevent the night watches, that I might meditate in thy word.